In Mérida, Marta Cabané-Navarro Lives In a Creative Haven
Marta Cabané-Navarro knew it from the moment she walked into a home for sale in Mérida. The mid-century modern home was perfect for an artist.
Henry Daniel: A Dancer/Scholar Choreographs the Future of AI
In some ways, Dr. Henry Daniel is exactly what you would expect from a professional dancer. He is fit and fills the room with energy. But then, on the other hand, his fascination with technology, philosophy, and performance, while at first a little bewildering, all begin to make sense once you realize dance is just…
Assata Akil’s Journey to Authentic Self-Expression in Art and Writing
We have four questions for artist-writer-storyteller Assata Akil about her career and philosophy. And about her fierce fictional character, IFE.
An architect and a chef’s eco-conscious ranch blends old-world traditions with modern sustainability
Andrea and Gregory Dykstra did not set out to run a full-scale ranching and artisanal food operation when they arrived in Yucatán. They had always dreamed of a place with space, a sustainable food supply, and a healthier lifestyle. Yet, as often happens, circumstances guided them toward a path they had not fully anticipated. Originally…
Jeremiah Tower’s never-ending search for something better
The legendary American chef champions technique over Instagram hype in Yucatán’s evolving food scene
The legacy of Café Cafico: A father’s gift to his daughters
In a Mérida experiencing a cultural crossroads, a small Yucatecan family business opens Monday through Saturday in Mérida’s Centro. The aroma of roasted coffee wafting from the shop each morning has become part of the daily routine for those who live and work in the surrounding area. Café Cafico sits a block away from Paseo…
Ric Best talks about how Mérida has influenced his latest works in more ways than one
By Trey Speegle For years, Ric Best never really needed a physical art studio, as he did work strictly in the digital realm. With space at a premium, Best says, “It was easier than painting while I was in New York City.” Four years ago, one of the main attractions in moving to Mérida was…
Samantha Michell: Capturing memories and movement
Born in Chicago to a Colombian mother and a Mexican father, a transitory lifestyle marked Samantha Michell’s early years, spending time between the United States and Mexico. However, her heart has always been firmly rooted in Mérida. “I spent 18 years living here, going back and forth,” she recalls. “I’ve technically been here more than…
Mérida Author Explores Small-Town Life and Alien Encounters
Mérida Innkeeper Dave O. Dodge is embarking on a New England book tour to celebrate his two biographical novels set in that region. Dodge, originally from New Hampshire, has lived in Mérida for the past decade. He and his husband run the Ochenta y Dos bed and breakfast. As they celebrate the start of their…
Ariz. Student Receives Journalism Award for Shedding Light on HIV in Yucatán
Jair Avalos López, a student at Arizona State University, received the National Health Journalism Award, highlighting the importance of improving the health system and strengthening HIV care in Yucatán and throughout the country. Yucatán has had one of Mexico’s highest HIV rates. Since 1983, 12,000 cases have been reported. The true number is generally believed to…
Consul General Dorothy Ngutter Bids a Warm Farewell to Yucatán
The time has come for Consul General Dorothy Ngutter to move on to her next assignment. It’s been a quick but productive three years since the well-loved diplomat arrived during the pandemic crisis. “This has been a unique assignment,” Ngutter told La Jornada Maya. “The opportunity to lead this team and represent my country here…
Lorraine Toohey Followed an Artist’s Path to a Vibrant Community
As a young artist, Lorraine Toohey embarked on an unconventional journey that eventually led her to Mérida, a stark contrast to her hometown of Edmonton. After graduating with a BFA and an art education degree, she was drawn to Vancouver’s artistic energy. “At the time, the Conservative government was cutting back on arts education. There…
LA Celebrity Trainer ‘JJ’ Johnson On Moving to Mérida
A certified personal trainer, vegan activist, and professional dancer/choreographer, JJ is a definite “it girl” of hip-hop dance cardio workouts.
Reclaiming X’Tabay: A Conversation with Artists Juana Alicia and Tirso González Araiza
In the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, a captivating artistic collaboration challenges conventional narratives and redefines the essence of a Maya legend. Muralist Juana Alicia and writer Tirso González Araiza have joined forces to present “La X’Tabay. El libro de los libros” (“The X’Tabay. The Book of Books”), an exhibition on view at the Palacio…
Susan Posnick: From Celebrity Makeup Artist and Entrepreneur to Her New Path In Yucatán
Little did Susan Posnick know that her battle with skin cancer would lead her to develop her own line of sunscreen products and natural cosmetics and also to save lives in the process.
Being an Expat in Yucatán: Here Are the Basics
Merida, Yucatan, is a city of around a million people, with expats living mainly in the 3.5-square-mile Centro Histórico, a series of neighborhoods near the Plaza Grande, or main square where the government and cathedral preside. Just how many? There is no official count, but certainly, expats here number in the thousands. More recently, younger…
Joey Arias: A NYC legend takes the stage in Mérida
A bona fide fixture of New York City’s vibrant downtown performance scene for 30-plus years, Joey Arias is bringing his cabaret show to Mérida. His one-night-only performance is at El Remate, which has a new chef and menu. Growing up outside of New York, I remember Arias as a major provocateur and trailblazer for drag…
Peter Karavais Explains the Motivation Behind Casa Cascabel
Tina Marie Wood and I spent a year traveling around Mexico with the intention of finding the right place to build Casa Cascabel.
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